REASONS KENYANS DONT LOSE WEIGHT.

If I had a a shilling for every time I heard someone say “I can’t lose weight”... well... I’d be a wealthy man! While a small percentage of Kenyans do struggle to lose weight because of a medical condition, more often it tends to be a matter of more energy (food) in than out (physical activity).

December holidays had most Kenyans 'enjoy' like this.

 Though it sounds easy, many people struggle to find a balance of food and activity that’s right for their lifestyle. Read on for some of the common reasons people can’t or don’t lose weight.

They skip meals. Our bodies are designed to eat at regular intervals during the day. When we skip meals our metabolism becomes sluggish, making it more difficult to lose weight. It also makes us vulnerable to extreme hunger which can lead to overeating. Eating more or less often than 4 or 5 times a day (this includes meals and snacks) can increase your risk of excess weight.



They don’t get physical. Losing weight and keeping it off takes a two-pronged approach – smarter food choices AND more physical activity. Physical activity helps your body burn more energy during and after your activity. Research shows that people who change their diet and increase their activity, lose more weight than those who do one or the other.

healthy choices and right information are necessary.

They don’t know what to eat. We are constantly bombarded with conflicting messages about what to eat and not eat - fat is good; fat is bad; eat more meat; be a vegetarian; do a detox diet… And if it’s not a new media story about how to lose weight then it’s a new diet food product that promises to improve your health. So much to choose from! Who to believe???  oh my my!!! nutrition and diet nowadays...


They eat too much. Maybe your activity levels have declined but your appetite hasn’t. Or you’ve cut back on one type of food only to eat more of another. Or maybe you just feel hungry all the time...


They don’t persist. Small changes can make a big difference but only if kept up most days of the week. Unwinding on the weekend with a little more food and a little less exercise does have consequences. Consider that one fish and chips meal a week could easily undo five days of smart food choices and physical activity!


They don’t alter their environment. Do you keep biscuits in the desk drawer or a stash of ice cream in the fridge, do you buy your young ones chocolate and secretly buy yours thinking you should be able to summons the “willpower” to resist the taste? hehe.. This is crazy! Trying to change your diet without changing the types of foods you keep around you is a recipe for failure.

They don’t realize that extras matter. Extras can easily creep into our days - an extra scone at morning tea, a fanta with lunch, chips and a smokie before dinner, a couple glasses of wine with tea. While they may not seem like much at the time, these “extra” foods all add up quickly. Too many are bad for health and make weight loss more difficult to achieve.

To achieve better choices this year, pliz stick to a healthy diet, there is a misconception with most kenyans that healthy foods are boring, are unavailable locally and are expensive. Physical activity to help you lose weight does not mean that you must hit the gym, hire a trainer or engage in strenuous activity. walking, gardening, playing with your small ones and occasionaly breaking a sweat will do you much as opposed to just sitting down on the couch procrastinating and dreaming about the figure or shape you want.